The implications of the Ecclesiastical Fees (Amendment) Measure 2011 cropped up yesterday. As a result I learned about the old days where incumbents could have more income than bishops and how augmentation provided for the poorer parishes. The benefits of a consistent stipend and the issues of a common purse and parish share all bobbed to the surface like detritus from a sunken liner!
Honourably, the first (quotable) comment considered the fact that the CofE is pricing itself out of the market when it comes to funerals and weddings. The cost of a base funeral being (with fees) is c. £2,000.
There is much pressure and hype regarding attracting weddings back into church buildings and yet, pound for pound, even though the buildings are attractive, in terms of venue alone, we are just not competitive. Then again, as one senior cleric put it, we possess a value added factor in that God is at hand to bless in our services (does that mean He curses i.e. withholds blessing, the others?).
We need to get our act together and realise that there is much at stake in the way that we market (used to be called evangelism), and charge for, what the Church offers.
I have much to wade through on this topic (thought the rural dean bit was just organising meetings, didn't know I had to read and understand stuff too :) ).
This is not a good measure and the mutterings about fees going directly to diocesan coffers and the like will do nothing to settle the troops and less in attracting punters!
Pax
4 comments:
I confess I know nothing as yet about the Measure you mention, but must take issue with the 'pricing ourselves out of the market' bit. The basic cost of a church wedding is around £300. I don't know what the uniform grimness of a Register Office costs, but a hotel or similar venue would be much more.
For your £300 you get exclusive use of a special building (to the upkeep of which you have quite possibly made absolutely no contribution), the professional services of one who has spent years being tested and trained for his job and who risks prison if he gets it wrong (which is a lot less than you will need to pay the solicitor who will arrange your divorce), an army of cleaners and others who get the place looking nice on your photos, not to mention heating and lighting. The blessing is free.
However, this is as nothing compared with the £1000 for the frock, the hair nails & makeup jobs, the stag weekend in Blackpool and the hen do in Ibiza, and the cost of the reception which could exceed the GDP of a small country. (A friend recently told me his daughter's bash cost him 18 grand - 10 years ago!)
I wouldn't want to see a big hike in fees, but I think we are a long way from pricing ourselves out of that particular market.
One of the problems as I see it can be found in the 'fees' listing of one church. Included in it were Verger, Photography licence, Video licence, heating & lighting and a host of other elements such that one couple I spoke to had a final bill around £650 (bell but no choir).
They went instead to a local hotel and trimmed a good couple of hundred of the bill. Now these weren't the 'spend thousands' sort, but were nominally Christian and yet their marriage was civil.
The people I have spoken with were all long-serving clergy who bemoaned the current fees and the increases in prospect. They were also concerned that fees going directly to the diocese and the issues around 'incidentals' would be the final nails.
DL, I can see what you are saying (in fact said it myself) nut can also see the other side.
Pax
Interesting topic.
The base Anglican service will cost just shy of £300.
A Register Office wedding is c. £75 (notice and registration).
A few local venues charge £75 for the Registration if the couple are also having their reception there. This means that they get a fair bit of business because what they see is a saving of some £200 for the wedding bit and as mice a venue as many of the local church buildings.
Think the pricing ourselves out of the Market is a fair observation.
We are seeing more funerals going to humanists and freelance/independent 'clergy' in crematoria. Some of those conducting the services appear to have very close links and mutually beneficial arrangements.
Thanks for highlighting a real concern
Post a Comment